City Corner column: Library offers summer reading program

I am looking for some activities for my children to do this summer. Is the city of Victoria offering any fun summer activities for school-aged children?

Yes. The Victoria Public Library is offering a full slate of summer activities for children and teens, including the annual Summer Reading Program, which kicks off June 4 with a transportation petting zoo from 9 to 11 a.m. in the library parking lot at 302 N. Main St.

There will be face painting, games, a clown, llamas, a Blue Sky Initiative booth and several special vehicles for children to see up close and personal, including a neighborhood mail truck, police car, fire truck and a boat from the U.S. Coast Guard.

"Get a Clue" is this year's Summer Reading Program theme and is open for toddlers through fifth grade. Children will receive reading logs to keep track of their reading time and will receive a library buck for every one hour of reading to redeem for prizes.

Various fun programs are being offered throughout the summer, such as crafts, storytelling, puppet shows, movies, music and games. Special performers include a storyteller and ventriloquist Margaret Clauder, Lucas Miller the singing zoologist, Victoria Bach Festival and the comedy magic of John O'Bryant.

The Summer Reading Program is also offered to teens in sixth through 12th grades. Teens will receive a library ticket for every hour of reading for chances in a weekly, monthly and grand prize drawing. Programs will feature gaming nights. It concludes with a gaming party and a grand prize drawing for a Kindle Fire.

The Summer Reading Program is sponsored by the Friends of the Victoria Public Library. Prize sponsors include Friends of the Library, the City of Victoria Parks and Recreation Department, Chick-fil-A, Casa Olé, Dairy Queen, Whataburger and Children's Discovery Museum of the Golden Crescent.

For more information and for a full calendar of summer activities, please contact the Victoria Public Library at 361-485-3302 or victoriapubliclibrary.org.

In addition to the Library programs, the city swimming pool officially opens for the summer season on Wednesday, June 6. Admission is only $1.50 per person. The pool is also available to rent for private parties and functions. Rental fee is $200. Call 361-485-3200 for reservations and more information.

There are also an abundance of activities to do in our city parks. There are 15 parks throughout the city and most are equipped with playgrounds, picnic tables and places to play sports - such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, disc golf and much more.

Can I report a pothole, a traffic signal that is not working, illegal dumping or any other issue to the city from my mobile device?

Yes. The city of Victoria appreciates the community being our "eyes and ears" on the streets and for letting us know when an issue arises that needs to be resolved.

One of the newest and most convenient ways to submit a request is by using your mobile device to report an issue. Simply use your mobile device and navigate to victoriatx.org/mobilecsr/request.asp.

You can also access the link from the City of Victoria homepage at victoriatx.org and click on the mobile device icon located on the right portion of the page. Be sure to bookmark the page and save it in your list of favorites for easy access. This "app" was designed specifically to fit mobile device platforms and formats.

There will be a series of drop-down menus from which you can choose the type of issue that you need to report, such as potholes, illegal dumping, graffiti, water line break and more. Your request will then be submitted to a city employee and the appropriate department will be informed and assigned to resolve the issue.

Requests received during normal business hours are usually acknowledged within the business day. Requests received after hours, on weekends or holidays will be acknowledged on the next business day. If you add your email address to the request, you will receive an email confirming your submission.

Customer service requests can also be submitted through the city's homepage. Just look for the customer service request link located along the top portion of the city's website. To make a customer service request by phone, please call 361-485-3109 and you will be directed to the appropriate department.

Do you have a question about the city of Victoria? Please submit your questions and comments about any city department to Jennifer Sourdellia in the Communications/Public Information Office by emailing jsourdellia@victoriatx.org or mail to P.O. Box 1758, Victoria, TX 77902.